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Sensing Change: The 2010 Census

The 2010 census revealed deep and ongoing changes in the demographic make-up of our nation and, in particular, the Southwest.
Reporters from Fronteras: The Changing America Desk have spread out into their communities – from the Pacific Ocean in California to the Gulf of Mexico in Texas – to find change and growth that are emblematic of the last decade's transformation. The stories will give you an intimate sense of the changes occurring across our region, including our documentary below on the 2010 census.

The U.S. Census Bureau released on Wednesday the results of experimental race and Hispanic origin questions tested during the 2010 census. The findings could have implications for how the 2020 census asks Americans about race.

In late 2005, the housing market exploded. Developers arrived in Maricopa in droves. Homes and shopping centers sprouted up on farms and fields everywhere. Demand was so high, developers had to create lottery drawings for potential buyers. The city’s population exploded and grew by more than 4,000 percent by 2010.

Clifton sits at the base of the largest copper mine in the country. In 1910, it had nearly 5,000 people. Since then, the numbers have gone up a little, then down a bit, based on the price of copper and the needs of the mine.

The 2010 Census confirms just how dismal the housing market is in much of the Southwestern United States. In Southern California, the numbers show people flocked inland. That sparked building fever. But many of these dream homes have become a nightmare, like in the City of Brawley in Imperial County, located 150 miles east of San Diego.